Our 12 day Ayahuasca Retreats in Peru

Bena Caia Ainbobo - 12 Day Ayahuasca Retreat in the Amazon Rainforest near Iquitos Peru

Our ayahuasca retreats are developed in close co-operation with the Shipibo healers themselves, as far as possible in accordance with their traditional use of the plant. Some of the highlights of programme include:

• A high ratio of healers to guests – 7 healers per workshop.

• Seven ayahuasca ceremonies over the 12 day workshop.

• A cleansing steam bath on the first day of the workshop.

• Daily Jain Póiti (banos de florecimento) – cleansing and strengthening floral baths.
• Energetic healing massages.

• Vomitivos (stomach cleansing) to rid your stomach of some toxins.

• All food using only the finest locally-produced ingredients - a very pure yet deliciously simple diet suitable for working with medicinal plants / ayahuasca .

• Explore the jungle and see medicinal plants in their natural environment, with an expert Shipibo guide and collect medicinal plants for our botanical garden.

• Individual consultations with the healers to discuss your experiences and healing process.

• Group meetings to share your experiences (for those who wish to).

• Accommodation in comfortable tambos spread out throughout the Temple grounds (fully protected with mosquito netting, hammocks for relaxing, some with toilets and verandas).

• Presentation on our Permaculture project and our goal to be completely self sustained by 2012.

Our Work

The Maestras come to the Temple because they want to heal. They need sufficient time to work closely with each participant to effect lasting change. For this reason, we hold workshops over 12 days and run 7 ceremonies to enable the Maestras to identify what needs to be addressed and fundamentally enable sufficient time for the healing to take place, sometimes needing to prescribe medicinal plant remedies where necessary. For this reason it is not possible to attend for less than 12 days. It is however possible to stay on after a workshop to integrate and process the healing.

We provide potent and visionary ayahuasca sourced from deep in the rainforest in the Shipibo territories. The ceremonies led by the Maestras provide the greatest possible comfort, protection and support to participants. We work with various levels of participants and provide personal attention and guidance providing regular consultations with the shamans and group talks about our experiences and the ceremonies.

The way we work is very much according to Shipibo tradition, and their encyclopaedic knowledge of medicinal plants and other substances (rao) allows them to heal a huge range of conditions. In the Shipibo tradition, the healing process is very much focussed on cleansing and purifying the energy field which surrounds us, niwe in their language. They do this through an ancient healing process involving incredibly beautiful ikaros, intense perfumes and powerful energetic work.

By working closely with you providing a genuinely caring and compassionate approach, we are able to effect positive change in your lives. Ayahuasca is an incredible medicine and our healers truly want to make a difference to our participants’ lives. We work to heal all aspects of our participants’ bodies – physically, psychologically, emotionally and spiritually. We are able to help people move away from fear, despair, insecurity, anger, worry and doubt about whatever aspects of their lives that are troubling you to return filled with more hope, belief, passion, love and joy.

Daytime Activities

During the daytime, we work in a very friendly atmosphere and encourage you to relax. Although time alone in solitude in your tambo to reflect, connect and integrate the work is critical. When we are together as a group, we like to keep the atmosphere light and happy, and never too solemn. The spirits prefer this; although, of course, they also require focus, introspection and concentration on your process throughout the retreat.

Breakfast is held between 8.00am and 10.00am. Lunch is held between 1.00pm and 3.00pm. On the evenings where we do not hold ceremonies, dinner is served at 7.00pm.

There are frequently group meetings at 10.00am to discuss the previous nights ceremony offering you a chance to share your experiences with the group and the Maestras, if you wish to.

Floral baths are always held at 12.00pm followed by lunch. The floral baths are used by the Maestras initially to work on cleaning, healing, purifying your bodies and then attracting whatever you wish into your life. They are a crucial part of their healing work  and are an important element of the process. They also serve to clear away negative energies that are brought out during ceremonies.

The afternoons are generally used to relax, read, write in your journal, catch up on sleep, meditate and take in the sounds & beauty of the surrounding rainforest.

We hold energy massages for each participant always at 3.00pm which enable the Maestras to move blocked energy in your body. Individual consultations also start at 3.00pm with one of the healers and a translator.

Ceremonies then always begin at 9.00pm.

Food

One of the most important aspects of working with Ayahuasca is adhering to a time-honoured tradition of following a special diet in order to prepare not just the body, but also the mind and soul to incorporate the healing energy of Ayahuasca. This diet also shows Mother Ayahuasca your intention, and is a test of discipline and commitment.

The central aspects of the diet we follow at the Temple are common to the teachings of all the ayahuasquero/as across the Peruvian Amazon. In the case of some of the food restrictions, there is also definitive scientific evidence that they are essential for safety. We advise you to begin the diet at least 1 week before a 12 day workshop and to continue the diet for at least one week after the last ceremony. It is essential to continue the diet to ensure the ikaros you have received and any possible plant remedies you are prescribed, are given sufficient time to integrate.

The food prepared at the Temple is prepared by our wonderful cooks who provide you with a well rounded, healthy and plentiful diet throughout your stay whilst adhering to the essential restrictions.

We recommend that you abstain from the follow¬ing foods prior to, during and after your workshop:

• No salt or pepper
• No sugar, sweets or chocolate
• No pork (minimum 2 weeks before and after)
• No red meat
• No oils (if you must use oil, use olive oil very sparingly)
• No animal fats (lard, etc)
• No alcohol (minimum 1 week before and after)
• No fizzy drinks (including “diet” sodas, as these contain NutraSweet/Aspartame and other sweeteners), no energy drinks, no non-alcoholic beer
• No seasoning (white pepper, spices, etc)
• No chillies or other hot peppers
• No ice, ice cream, or ice cold drinks
• No dairy produce

Additional restrictions

• No sexual activities of any kind, including masturbation.
• Avoidance of synthetic soaps, perfumes, toiletries, etc. (Lifesystems all purpose travel soap and Dr Bronners mild liquid soap are recommended).
• No prescription drugs (please contact us with more information if you are currently taking any medication, especially antidepressants or antibiotics).
• If female participants are menstruating, then please inform us.
• Ayahuasca is not compatible with pregnancy.

By eliminating the above from your diet, you will prepare your body physically for the Ayahuasca journey, and perhaps also reducing the amount of “purging” needed to clean your physical body. In addition to the physical aspects, by showing your commitment and determination to Mother Ayahuasca, you are creating the foundations of your relationship with Her and offering Her the respect which is essential to this work.

Additional activities

• We demonstrate to the group how to prepare and cook Ayahausca..
• Jungle excursion to identify and collect medicinal plants for the Temple botanical gardens.
• Boat excursion and opportunity for a swim in a jungle “cocha” (lagoon).
• Yoga classes.

What's included:

• Comfortable lodging in our tambos protected by mosquito netting (and additional mosquito netting over the beds).
• Collection from and drop of back to Iquitos.
• All transportation to / from the Temple.
• All meals and drinks at the retreat.
• Ayahuasca cleansing and healing ceremonies.
• Purifying, cleansing and revitalising floral baths (banos de florecimientos).
• Medicinal and purgative plants carefully-selected for highest quality used for body, mind, emotions and spiritual cleansing.
• Tuition and healing.
• Personal diagnoses and consultations with the Maestras.
• Participation in the preparation and cooking of the Ayahuasca medicine.
• Guided Jungle walks.
• Laundry during the retreat.
• Translation from Shipibo / Spanish to English.
• Porters to carry your luggage in and out of the Temple from the boat.

What’s not included:

• Airfares (International and National).
• Transportation to and from Lima aiport.
• Local airport taxes (apprx $5 per flight)
• International departure tax (currently $30 from Lima).
• Travel Insurance.
• Accomodation in Iquitos (we can book this for you).
• Peruvian Visa costs for non EEC or USA nationals.
• Personal expenses (meals and drinks in Iquitos, etc).

Permaculture at the Temple

We are working on a perma-culture project with a goal to be 100% self sustained. We are currently in the process of building vegetable gardens, planting fruit trees, plan to build 2 fish farms and are planting medicinal plants throughout the Temple grounds. We are also planning to cover the grounds with thousands of flowers over the next year. In our own small way, we are determined to halt the destruction of this planet.

One of the steps we are taking to address this issue is through eliminating waste.  We are conscious of the negative impacts that mismanaged waste can have on the planet and have implemented an integrated resource management system that seeks to achieve zero waste and reduce our ecological footprint. We run a small presentation during the workshop on the importance of caring for our Mother, Earth.

Our Intention

By working closely with you providing a safe, warm and optimistic approach, we hope to be able to effect positive change in your lives. Ayahuasca is an incredible medicine and we only work with very experienced healers with integrity who truly want to make a difference. We are often able to help people move away from fear, despair, insecurity, anger, worry and doubt about whatever aspects of their lives that are troubling them to return filled with more hope, self-belief, passion for life, love and joy.

The possibility to transforms one’s life is certainly there and considerable change is often realised in 12 days. Obviously, we can not guarantee healing and much of the end result rests on your determination, intent and focus on your inner work. However, we are proud of the results we have achieved and genuinely care about each participant who comes to work with us.

Frequently, a 12 day workshop is the beginning of a much longer process and we see many people returning back each year to further their understanding of this work and their relationship with Mother Ayahuasca / themselves. That said, much can be achieved and we have found from experience that 12 days offers a sufficient time to effect lasting change to peoples lives.

Projects in the Shipibo Communities

We are also working closely with a grassroots organisation in Pucallpa which works to protect the Shipibo people and culture and as we are concerned by the accelerating loss of traditional knowledge and growing threats to the Shipibos’ ancestral lands along the Rio Ucayali.

We are in the process of setting up an NGO to raise funds for a range of projects aimed at preserving Shipibo traditions – including their unique ethnomedical tradition – and promoting culturally and environmentally sustainable development through education and community work. We are dedicated to raising awareness of the social, political and environmental issues which face their people.

Cost

The cost of a 12 day ayahuasca retreat at the Temple is $1,500. This cost is all inclusive and includes transport by boat from Iquitos; travel to Peru (and from Lima to Iquitos) is not included.